C’ttee Wants Ministry of Police Affairs Scrapped

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The National Conference Standing Committee on National Security in Abuja on Monday recommended the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs.

The committee, in an overwhelming decision, said the ministry should be replaced with a Ministry of Homeland Security.

The Deputy Chairman of the committee, Chief Albert Horsefall, who presided, said the new ministry if created would coordinate activities of the National Guard, Police, Civil Defence, and the Prisons Service.

The committee, however, said following the recommendations of the Committee on Devolution of Power, the present centralised police structure should remain.

Horsefall, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said police should be reformed to make it more effective and reflect the federal character.

He explained that the police council should remain the body responsible for force policy, finances, organisation and standards.

According to him, the council will play a far greater role in shaping the aims and objectives of the service.

He said the council would be responsible for the appointment of the Inspector- General of Police (IG), on the advice of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Horsefall said the PSC would continue to be responsible for appointment, promotion and discipline of all officers below the IGP, except the operational control of the police vested in the IGP.

He said PSC was expected to be independent enough to guard against nepotism in recruitment, discipline, promotion and the dominance of the service by any single or few ethnic groups.

The committee also recommended the creation of Nigerian National Guard Corps to handle internal conflicts and border control.

Horsefall said it similarly recommended the establishment of a Rapid Response Force to deal with emergencies at all levels of government as part of the National Guard.

He said still within the Ministry of Homeland Security, the committee recommended the setting up of a VIP Protection Department and the creation of Security and Intelligence Services Inspectorate and Disciplinary Service Commission.